Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday revealed that he has witnesses travelling from the United Kingdom, United States, Ethiopia, and Kenya to testify in his defence in the ongoing terrorism trial against him. Kanu, who is standing trial on charges bordering on terrorism and incitement, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the foreign witnesses would form part of the 23 individuals he intends to call as defence witnesses. At Friday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho, Kanu requested more time to prepare for his defence, explaining that he was yet to…

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, on Friday disclosed that no fewer than 55 requests for new states and 278 proposals for new local government areas are currently before the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. Barau, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, made this known during a two-day retreat for members of the Senate and House of Representatives committees on constitution review held in Lagos. In a statement issued by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, Barau said the volume of submissions underscores Nigerians’ desire for inclusivity, representation, and restructuring of the…

By Barrister Bilal Akinola Husayn Introduction Since June 2023, Nigeria has witnessed an unsettling shift, one that threatens its delicate unity, fairness, and social fabric. The North, long a stabilizing pillar of the nation’s identity, now finds itself systematically marginalized, politically isolated, and economically weakened. Across politics, security, religion, and governance, a pattern has emerged, one that paints a disturbing picture of selective justice, religious bias, and deliberate exclusion of northern Muslims from the mainstream of national life. This is not mere coincidence; it is a carefully woven web of policies and decisions that together form a quiet but coordinated…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the sack of Nigeria’s service chiefs and announced the appointment of their replacements, in what is seen as a major shake-up in the nation’s security architecture. The President’s decision was contained in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Sunday Dare. According to the statement, Tinubu named Major-General W. as the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke takes over as Chief of Air Staff. Rear Admiral I. Abbas was appointed Chief of Naval Staff. The President had earlier appointed Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff,…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against excluding him from key party activities, declaring that any attempt to sideline him would hasten the party’s collapse. Wike, who spoke during his monthly media parley in Abuja, expressed deep frustration over what he described as the deliberate efforts of some PDP governors to edge him out of the party’s major consultations, despite his enormous contributions to its growth and survival. According to the former Rivers State governor, the attitude of some current party leaders was self-destructive…

The Federal Government has dismissed 10 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and sanctioned 21 others over various acts of misconduct and breach of service regulations. The disciplinary action, approved by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), followed recommendations by its Disciplinary and General Purpose Committee (BDGPC), which met on July 11, 2025. The Service’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, R. Akinsola Akinlabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. Akinlabi said the measures reflected the board’s commitment to instilling discipline, integrity and accountability across all paramilitary services under its…

The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has confirmed the arrest of 11 senior members of various terrorist groups in Nigeria as part of a sweeping multinational crackdown on terrorism financing across Africa. The arrests were made under Operation Catalyst, a three-month joint security operation that ran from July to September 2025, targeting financial networks and criminal cartels believed to be funding terrorism in six African countries — Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, and South Sudan. In a statement released on Thursday, INTERPOL said 83 suspects were arrested across the continent, with Nigeria accounting for 11 high-level operatives from different terrorist…

Wema Bank Plc has announced plans to host the latest edition of its NBC Trade Fair in Ikeja, Lagos, as part of its ongoing drive to support small businesses, deepen financial inclusion, and empower women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. The three-day fair, scheduled to hold from October 24 to 26, 2025, at the Whitestone Event Centre, is expected to attract hundreds of vendors, entrepreneurs, and shoppers from across sectors including fashion, food, skincare, and lifestyle. According to the bank, the Lagos edition follows the success of its Island and Ghana editions earlier in the year, both of which created platforms for…

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed no fewer than 498 drug premises in Lagos State for operating illegally and violating professional regulations. The Head of Enforcement of the Council, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the PCN Southwest Zonal Office in Yaba, Lagos. Chiroma said the week-long enforcement exercise, which covered 20 local government areas, uncovered widespread irregularities in both registered and unregistered outlets, including pharmacies and patent medicine stores. “Out of 845 premises inspected, 498 were sealed for various infractions ranging from unlicensed operations to the sale of controlled drugs by…

More than 50 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters were gunned down in the early hours of Thursday as troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) repelled simultaneous attacks on military bases across Borno and Yobe States. The coordinated offensives, which began shortly after midnight, targeted military formations in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo (all in Borno), and Katarko in Yobe. According to a statement by Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Officer of the Joint Task Force, the terrorists stormed the bases in large numbers, unleashing heavy gunfire and drone-led rocket attacks that lasted several hours. “The troops fought…